Brucellosis is among the zoonotic diseases that continue to afflict man and animals in Uganda. The increase in the number of disease outbreaks in animals from 1990 to 2013 and the number of human patients diagnosed with brucellosis in private clinics and hospitals has placed the infection to be among the top re-emerging diseases in the country. Brucellosis infection in humans is non-specific and caused by direct or indirect contact with infected animals or their products. Brucellosis manifests as intermittent fever, headache, weakness, profuse sweating, chills, weight loss, generalized aching that may involve multiple organ systems in the body. In animals, Brucella organisms localize in the reproductive organs, causing abortions, decreased milk yields and temporary sterility. Its effects impact negatively to the sale value of the affected animals causing financial losses to the animal owners.
Objective:
To determine the seroprevalence of Brucellosis antibodies in cattle in 3 districts in South-western Uganda (Mbarara, Kiruhura and Bushenyi) and to determine the seroprevalence of Brucellosis among the cattle keepers on farms with cattle detected with brucellosis antibodies in the same districts and also to determine the level of awareness of Brucellosis disease among individuals that get in contact with livestock in the same districts.`